Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-09-06
PAGAN PAINTINGS.
How the Chinese Children OF San Fran
cisco Amuse Themselves.

PAGAN PLAf-IHiNSS.
-. ~s,.... r,.,,ar.n :, 81. r,.n.
cisco Amuse themselves.
A peep into the play corner of a
Celestial Juvenile makes plain the fact
that few play-things suffice for the
pleasures of the youth of the Flowery
kingdom. Dolls there are, to be sure.
but the girls make very little of them.
and they are often petted and patted
by the boys. There does not seem to
be 80 much Of the make-believe among
the childish players Of Chinatown as
there is among white children. AL
though Joss appeals to their imagina-
ton, doll is only doll. This may
be accounted for by the fact that about
the time when they would naturally
begin to take most interest in wax
features and saw-dust bodies, their at
tention is called to dolls Of flesh and
blood. Hardly has the female Mon
golian fairly begun to steady herself
In her clumsy shoes and she Is made
a saddle-horse Tor the month-old tots
Of her own or some other family.
Sometimes the motheriyiooKing lille
maid who bends her back 70 the daiis
task OF giving the baby an airing mas
such tired expression OF countenanee
that y would appear 70 De only iair'
especially in view OF the disproportioh
Of burden to bearer, that places Do
changed Tor time.
But, besides the hnman play-things,
there are odd puzzles to be put to-
gether or strung into certain shapes,
gorgeous glass marbles to roll about.
balls with strings attached so that they
may not get lost, and coiored blocks
with which to build wonderful houses,
bridges and towers diminutive junks
TO pull about on the floor. and small
mirrors in which to scan small yellow
features and narrow black eyes. The
abacus, OF mechanical counter, -
placed In the hands oil the youth at a
very early age, and y y wonderful 70
Americans how quickly mathematics
are mastered IN th's manner py h'tie
Fellows haruiy knee h'en.
When kite-hying Is 70 DO considered,
the Chinese OF any age are always
children. DID men take as Keen de-
light in sailing paper dragons and birds
as boys OF ten. But this does not detract
from the pleasure OF the boys, who
unwind the kite-string and watch their
cherished toy hoat away with an inter
est that hags not with each successive
aerial hight. More Chinese kites are
nown by American boys In San Fran
cisco than In any ether city In the
limited states but one y not often az
iorded tne spectacle q q Ceiestfa
youth nyang . KITE even IN TINS cos
moPontan place. as they re usually
sent up from the roois OF buildings ou'
o. view q the street.
Iop-spinning Is favorite amuse'
ment, and IN this the Chinese are OK
perts. The length OF time In which
they can keep the humming object IN
motion IS quite remarkable.
Chinese boys from eight to twelve
years OF age play an odd game witt
sticks OF wood about three feet long. 4
stick Is grasped near the middle ant
thrown sideways, the object being I,
cross II upon another stick lying upor
the ground. The secret of the gam,
and the points TO be made have never
been mastered BY the American boy'
who hang about the outskirts Of China
town. The small Californian votes II ;
very dull play and can not see wha
there Is in II TO arouse the enthusiasm
Of the youthful heather,
There is a Chinese game, however
that never fails to arouse the interes
and envy Of the white boys 1t il
played with loaded cork bestuck will
feathers. The game is to keep til,
cork in the air. The first player throws
up the shnttlecock and before 1t agail
reaches the earth he twists his foot ant